Garden Design
Garden Design in Broomfield, Essex
Location: Broomfield, Chelmsford, Essex
A modern family garden designed for everyday use — with terraces, a pergola, durable decking and a dedicated play zone, all softened by low-maintenance planting that brings structure through the seasons.
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Overview
Created for a young family, this Broomfield garden needed to be practical, calm and easy to maintain — with clear zones for relaxing, dining and children’s play, while keeping the overall layout cohesive.
- Layered terraces for seating, dining and play.
- Limestone paving, Millboard decking and bespoke pergola.
- Dedicated children’s play area with soft, safe surfacing.
- Low-maintenance planting with year-round structure.
Read the design story
The brief
For this Broomfield garden, a young family approached us looking for a space that was both practical and beautiful. They wanted a garden that would support everyday life — somewhere the children could play safely, the adults could relax, and everyone could enjoy spending more time outdoors.
Improving access and making the most of every inch of space were key priorities. The layout needed clearly defined areas for different activities, while still feeling cohesive, easy to maintain and ready to accommodate a future garden room.
Terraces, decking & pergola
The design begins with a generous patio that draws you out into the garden and creates a clear heart to the space. Limestone paving, a bespoke pergola and a retaining wall work together to form an intimate family zone and a welcoming sun trap — ideal for relaxed mornings and evening entertaining.
Millboard decking provides a durable, low-maintenance surface with two key access points: a long, low step that doubles as informal seating, and a second set of steps leading down to a lower patio perfect for outdoor dining and social gatherings.
Family lawn & play space
A professionally turfed lawn offers a smooth, resilient surface for the children to enjoy, edged with discreet metal work to keep lines crisp and mowing straightforward. At the back of the garden, a dedicated children’s play area uses rubber chippings to create a soft, impact-absorbing surface and a clearly defined zone for play.
This clear zoning allows adults and children to share the garden comfortably — with areas for play, quiet time and entertaining all functioning side by side.
Planting & year-round structure
The planting scheme focuses on low maintenance and year-round appeal. Structural evergreens provide form and backbone, while flowering perennials and ornamental grasses add texture, movement and seasonal colour.
Materials and planting are coordinated to maintain a clean, modern look and a strong visual connection between each zone. The result is a family garden that balances beauty with practicality — working well now and ready to evolve with the future addition of a garden room.
A garden that grows with the family
With space reserved for a future garden room and terraces that flex between play, dining and downtime, this Broomfield layout is designed to adapt as family life evolves.
Clear zoning, robust materials and thoughtful planting transform a standard family garden into a space that feels calm, practical and genuinely enjoyable to use every day.
Gallery
Spaces within the Broomfield garden
A selection of views showing the terraces, pergola seating, family lawn, play area and planting that tie this Chelmsford garden together.
Like this family garden in Broomfield?
If you’re planning a new family garden or redesign in Chelmsford or elsewhere in Essex, we’d be delighted to explore how we can create a practical, beautiful space tailored to the way you live.
Start your project